Qahwaji Expects War of 'Attrition' with Terrorists, Vows to Defeat them
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji expected a war of “attrition” with Syria-based terrorists, warning the military would launch more preventive strikes against them.
“Our battle with terrorism and terrorists is open-ended and we expect it to be a war of attrition,” Qahwaji said in remarks published in local dailies on Thursday.
He promised to make more preventive strikes against the militants who are entrenched on the porous border between Lebanon and Syria.
On Wednesday, a Lebanese military expert was killed and two others were wounded when a bomb they were about to dismantle on the outskirts of the town of Arsal exploded, the army said.
The explosion came a day after an ambush by militants near Ras Baalbek area killed six soldiers and wounded one.
The troops found the bomb on Wednesday as an army patrol was combing the area in the aftermath of Tuesday's ambush.
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the two attacks. But Lebanese troops have been battling the Syria-based Islamic militants, including the extremist Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, in areas near the border.
“If the terrorists are responding to the preventive strikes carried out by the army, then … there will be more similar strikes,” Qahwaji said.
He said the army is “strong” and “in high spirits.”
Asked whether the latest attacks on the military were the result of the arrest of Saja al-Dulaimi, who Lebanese authorities say is the divorcee of IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Qahwaji denied the two issues were linked.
He said: “The woman was apprehended 15 days ago after a thorough monitoring that started two months ago.”
“Our intention was to know her identity,” he added.
The army chief stressed that the terrorist organizations do not act like armies. “We expect anything from this enemy.”
“We hit them hard and we will continue to hit them until we defeat them no matter how much time it takes,” he said.
G.K.
H.K.
04 December 2014, 08:40
59
It is a shame he missed a great photo opportunity in dahyeh the other day with the released HA terrorist. It would have added more credibility on his resume'.
04 December 2014, 13:08
25
General Qahwaji, today all the eyes of Lebanon are focused on you, do your job without relent, without refrain, without hesitation. I would like to kindly remind you that in 1975, what started the civil war was the army's hesitation of 1973 by the gnome president Sleymen Frangieh. The civilians interfered with the army's decision makings system, and less than 2 years alter, Lebanon started its descent into hell. Today in 2014, we're not that different either, but a great president Michel Suleiman has served his term with great honor and dignity, so today Lebanon has no head, many tails yes, but no head. The whole nation rests on your shoulders, if you falter, the army will falter, and Lebanon will never forgive you or the army. Stand tall General, this is the time to shine or wither away.
04 December 2014, 16:53
01
I Guess we need more fire power, some F5 or higher fast planes that can make the difference in time to respond and damage to attackers, with heavy gunships Apache or Gazel etc following infiltrations on the ground. Speed and fire power, also don't wait for them ... check their huding places and keep watching them untill you find the best spot ti hit them when they move taking into consideration our Captive soldiers.
04 December 2014, 15:00
82
What a magnificent job this man has done under the circumstances.
First his hands were tied during Suleiman's term but boy has he come into his own since that treacherous nobody left....No more sitting & waiting for them to hit....You hit as you please & see fit.
Thank God you're in charge now without restraint like you were during Suleiman's term ....Lebanon is yours ..go for it...no more pleasing outsiders & failed Pres who only gave the ok to eye surgeries.
04 December 2014, 15:54
22
Sorry Roar, you wrote and I quote: "Thank God you're in charge now without restraint like you were during Suleiman's term", unquote. No one ever tied Qahwaji's hand, especially not from president Suleiman as you are falsely claiming. On the very contrary, Suleiman opened and paved the way for a strong and decisive Lebanese Army, lest you forgot Nahr Al Bared. However in typical Aounist behavior, you are still sore that Suleiman was not curtsying to your masters in Dahyeh and Damascus, unlike your demagogue Aoun. Sorry, I will never refer to Aoun as general because he was and remains an impostor. If I may caution, and this with the utmost respect to your sentiments, kindly try not to deform facts nor the course of history, if your lamentable FPM holds rancor against a fine president, it does not mean you can go around hoarding defamation of any kind of the decent character of a man your Aoun needs centuries to reach.
04 December 2014, 16:00
52
Nahr bared is a fantastic case..I'm so glad you put that in.
Nahr bared was given decisive orders by then President Lahoud.
Not Suleiman who was General....unlike Suleiman the Pres who never gave his general the full power to fight IS nusra etc.
instead they were being hit everywhere & made to retreat like school kids...Go ask how they got the go ahead against Assir & co.
speak facts or best go talk with al fanique...he likes your style.
04 December 2014, 16:33
21
Roar, you still have a long way to debate without your usual lackluster style, anyway, that's besides the point. In Nahr Al Bared, sure Lahoud was president, I mean, Syrian puppet lackey president working under direct orders from Bachar Al Assad. Al Assad released Fath Al Islam's Shaker Absi from his prisons? Then who warned army general Suleiman about those famous Red Lines? wasn't it Sayed Hassan himself? No Roar, Suleiman gave orders not to allow politicians to meddle with Nahr Al Bared and got his way through. But you are still an FPM who sees no further that the blessed words of OTV and that sick old man Aoun who is evil enough to wash his adepts' brains to the point they stop thinking for themselves, now isn't it what our army is currently fighting against, brainwashed fanatics? Please Roar, the audience of this forum is not blind and is not attuned to deformed rhetorics, Suleiman on his own is worth a million dwarf Aouns.
04 December 2014, 16:38
22
Roar forgot few weeks ago, Auon and comopany were hitting on G. Qahwagi when his name started comming as a candidate. Their orchestra started heavily hinting that he should be accounted for Arsal and never ended .... now with all respect, Roar, it isv180 degrees the opposite opinion of FPM.
04 December 2014, 16:44
31
You're trying very hard to sneak out of the corner you got yourself into Phoenix.....I careless if Lahoud was a Syrian puppet or a martian from outer space....
stay in the kitchen Phoenix..I know it got too hot for you.
Lahoud was Pres during Nahr Bared no mater how you try to spin it to get out of it....Lahoud gave orders to the army to go after them.
clear orders that the Gen cannot take without them
Now stop your BS about who pro Syrian & whos a martian according to Garp-Phoenix.
Unlike suleiman who refused to give his general any go ahead & only a threat from all the top General & commanders that will resign if they cannot go after Assir did Suleiman finally buckle & say ok.
04 December 2014, 15:04
72
You want him to fight Lebanese who supported the army when it was needed most?
But you want him to stop fighting IS, Nusra etc?
lol well said
04 December 2014, 16:30
51
lol many many thanks for confirming to all what you really know & why your here.
Yes HA likes people to believe they were Arsal as you say.
if only you knew HA has done everything in its power to distance itself from the Arsal clashes....It was video footage that clearly showed HA protecting the LAF's flanks & providing serious weaponary to the LAF.
But you know best because your here to divide the Lebanese & help it burn..your anti Lebanese....it's becoming clear who is anti Lebanese on here & neither M8 nor M14 nor centrist BS....just outsiders paid to help lie & spread false propaganda at all cost.
04 December 2014, 17:02
21
Nice try anti Lebanese tex.
You just don;t get it...HA don;t want it to be known they were in Arsal
Yet they were exposed ...it wasn;t them doing it .
It was the other side proving the LAF work with HA.
You keep trying your best to ignite Lebanon Tex..we understand your intentions on here now...
04 December 2014, 17:28
41
thats the point anti Lebanese tex..it isn;t HA footage.
keep trying to burn Lebanon....7 days a week huh ?
damn even paid jobs people have one or 2 days off.
04 December 2014, 17:34
41
No forget all that, we will wait for your repeated opinion 7 days a week telling everyone who you know is Lebanese-IS-Nusra_Qaida etc & who isn't Lebanese-HA-Aoun-LAF etc.
fully exposed tex.
04 December 2014, 18:39
13
Poor Roar, so now we've got kitchen, a Lahoud that has just been canonized, yeah right, kitchen as in Aoun vowing to fight it to the kitchen's last corner, to the last knife, lol. Then to a Lahoud that was never a president in truth. The purpose of my debating anyone here is not to win an argument at all cost as is so inherent with most Aounis, but to learn, like in the learning process. But fact remains, and this is fact my dear Roar, Lahoud gave orders NOT to storm the camp, pressure came from Sayed Hassan after Syria's but in the same fashion as Suleiman snubbed your camp till his last presidential days, in his post as army chief he did the same, and stormed the camp. That fateful day was the day when the Lebanese Army was reborn of its ashes, today's army was born in Nahr El Bared, and Suleiman was and remains instrumental. Period, live with it Roar.... Unlike your Aoun that destroyed the army's image
04 December 2014, 19:18
14
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel said after the meeting.In response to a question, he said: “The military operation in Arsal will continue.” He denied reports that Hezbollah was helping the Army in its battle against militants. “The Army is the only [force] in Arsal fighting terrorists. - See more at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Aug-04/265976-army-vows-to-finish-arsal-battle-in-48-hours.ashx#sthash.ojlfi5ZG.dpuf
04 December 2014, 16:38
24
Then ya Roar, you keep lending yourself to one speculation after the other and here I quote another silly phrase from you :"Go ask who supported the LAF against your IS friends in the battle recently in Arsal....who gave the LAF real weapons in Nahr Bared etc.", unquote. Now such silly assertions have been floated for a long time and only the devoid in dissertation will subscribe to such theories. We've also heard that HA was and is still helping the army, OK, fine, but with me speculation does not cut the cheese, give me facts and I'll take it on from there with you. Right now you're just being a mouthpiece for the FPM and Hezbollah, please drop it as it's unfair on you.
04 December 2014, 16:48
51
No need for you to believe ... The army is more concerned with protecting Lebanon & not showing you the proof.
The lAF & HA have an understanding that its two separate bodies for a reason..if you can't work it out by now as to why...then you go ahead believing whatever you like....Lebanon's protection is far more significant than your opinion.
04 December 2014, 16:55
23
Roar, this is exactly the kind of statements that can only worsen the situation of our army. hasn't it got enough such words already? Aren't there enough people who want to cash in on the blood of our martyred soldiers? Isn't exactly this that ISIL and Al Nusra accusing our army, of collusion with Hezbollah? Alah yerda3 3aleyk, in the absence of proofs, stop writing such inconsistencies, it's exactly such that is hurting our army.
04 December 2014, 17:04
51
No Phoenix its weak Lebanese who have so much hate for other Lebanese who is causing the damage in Lebanon & to its soldiers,.
The day you understand who's defending you & whos there to ignite your country is the day Lebanon becomes a free nation.
weak Phoenix weak.
